Bill > HB913

This bill, known as the Missouri Rural Doctors Act, establishes new regulations for non-compete agreements involving physicians working for nonprofit employers. The legislation defines key terms such as "covenant not to compete" (an agreement restricting a physician's ability to compete with an employer after leaving their job) and specifies conditions under which such agreements can be legally enforced. Specifically, a non-compete covenant will only be valid if the physician is providing clinical health care services, the restriction does not last longer than 365 days, and the geographic limitation does not extend beyond 50 miles from the physician's original workplace. Importantly, the bill explicitly exempts non-compete agreements between physicians and research university hospitals from these new restrictions, providing them with more flexibility. The goal appears to be protecting physicians' ability to practice medicine and potentially maintain access to healthcare services in rural areas by limiting overly restrictive employment agreements.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB913&year=2025&code=R